LA UNION ARTISTS ADORN OPEN SPACES WITH MURALS; WINNING ARTWORKS RECOGNIZED
By: Joy Ann L. Gurtiza, GPC-LUPTO | Photos By: LUPTO | Date: December 15, 2021
Two months after the contest launch, 16 colorful artworks of participating Local Government Units (LGUs) for the MARIS ITI AGLAWLaU: Pride of Place Mural Painting Competition were judged and recognized. Led by the La Union Provincial Tourism Office (LUPTO) – Culture and Arts Section (CAS), the competition forms part of Sining Galing for Recovery and Healing program of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) which aims to continue, preserve, and support the cultural and artistic expressions of the local arts community towards #CreativeRecovery.
Supported by Department of Tourism (DOT) – Region 1, Boysen Philippines and San Miguel Corporation - (SMC) Infrastructure, participating LGUs include the City of San Fernando and Municipalities of Agoo, Aringay, Bacnotan, Bagulin, Balaoan, Bangar, Burgos, Caba, Luna, Naguilian, Rosario, San Juan, Santo Tomas, Santol and Tubao.
LGU Santo Tomas bagged first place and DOT Region 1’s Choice Award. While LGU Bangar and LGU San Juan completed the Top 3 winners. Included in the top 10 artworks are the murals of LGUs Bagulin, Balaoan, San Fernando, Santol, Rosario, Luna and Tubao. LGU Bagulin further received the SMC Infrastructure’s Choice Award. Winners were chosen based on thematic approach, visual creativity and quality, artistry, execution and technique including the social media engagement of posted entries’ photos.
Arch. Paulo Martinez of United Architects of the Philippines – La Union Chapter, Cesar “Ciano” Dumo of Artist Guild of La Union, including Ms. Arlene Mercado and Ms. Sarah Villamil of DOT – Region 1 served as the panel of judges.
On behalf of Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega, LUPTO Officer-in-Charge Arthur S. Cortez, Jr. expressed his warm gratitude to all the participating stakeholders who attended the Awarding Ceremony on December 15, 2021. “We, at the PGLU, recognize the efforts of the 16 participating LGUs and beautifying our open spaces… Let us continue to champion excellence and local genius in the way we do our personal and communal endeavors,” Cortez highlighted.
PGLU hopes that these programs shall supplement the local and national government’s recovery and reintegration efforts towards building a Stronger La Union – a province worth living in.
